Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-25
A SHIP IN THE BREAKERS
THE DELAWARE HAS A MlRAC-
ULOUS ESCAPE.

Brunswick Startled by Rumors of Ter
ribie Loss OF Life-The Vessel Helped
On by a SqualI and Subsequently
flowed to Fernspdina-The story OF
Passenger.
BRUNSWICK, GA, Jan. 24.-News that
the Clyde line steamer Delaware had gone
ashore on the breakers near st. Andrews
sound, about twenty miles from this city,
became public here shortly after 10 O'Clock
this morning, and In an incredibly short
space Of time, rumOrs of the most alarm
ing nature were in circulation. News
from the scene OF the supposed disaster
was unobtainable, and the widest excite
ment was caused by assertions that
the vessel had foundered in a ter
ri6le gale, and taken to the
bottom with her over a hundred
lives, not a single survivor being left, &C
cording to the assertions OF the sensation
alists, TO tell the story OF the wreck. a tug
boat started with all possible haste for
the scene. and this afternoon word Wss
received that the first reports were e&ag-
gerated, not life having been lost, and
the vessel being then in tow on her WaV
TO Fernandlna not greatly damaged.
After the vessel became fast hlgh west
erly wind sprung no, and by hosting all
sails the crew managed to float her before
the tugs arrived. An eXamina-
ton showed that her machinery
was disabled and her rudder gone,
but beyond this she had suffered,
comparatively speaking, no damage. IL
is also learned that the accident was the
result of an error on the part OF the pilot
in identifying the location OF the lights ON
the shore.
THE STORY OF PASSENGER.
FERNANDINA, FLA, Jan. pa. Kau!-
man, Of Jacksonville, passenger, says
the steamer Delaware, q. Ii. Wllnell,
master, left New York at 1870 O'Clock on
the afternoon OF Jan. 1S, she arrived at
Charleston Saturday morning at $50
O'Clock and left at 2:30 O'Clock that alter
noon. She was of the entrance 10 st.
Andrews sound, with the wind southeast,
with a slight fog at 6 O'Clock sunday
morning. The ship was then found
TO be in the shoals at st. Andrews north
breakers, and only few moments after
went on, bows first, with the sea break
ing over her forward. Two anchors were
got out and every effort made to get her
afloat, but without success. AS the tide
rose she pounded heavily.
WORD SENT TO BRUNSWICK,
At 10 O'Clock this morning the second
mate, with three sailors, were sent In
small boat to Brunswick, twenty miles
distant. for assistance. The tugs Inca
and Angie and Nellie were secured and
proceeded TO the steamer, which they
reached about o'clock this morning.
Fortunately westerly wilma was blow.
ing and her sails were set to help her oil.
Halt an hour before the tugs arrived
squat came up from the west, and in it
the stea mer was got atoat. 1t was then
found that her rudder was gone. The
tugs soon lowed her out from the shoals
and thence to Fernandina, where she ar
rived at O'Clock tonight.
THE ONLY DAMAGE.
During the squall the main boom was
broken of. with the exception of the
loss OF the rudder the ship does not seem
TO have received any material injury. The
passengers showed great courage, there
being the least possible excitement among
them. Many OF them assisted the crew.
There were fifteen cabin and ten steerage
passengers ABOARD. They are unanimous
In their praise of the officers for their
kindness and attention, especially Chief
Engineer T. ). LOnney. 1t is impossible
10 learn where the blame lies or VINO is
responsible, for the disaster. The officers
are reticent. The passengers evidently
think some one Numbered, and give Chief
Engineer Lonney great credit for his
prompt action and efficient service in his
department.